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Boron is a critical but often overlooked micronutrient in plants — not required in large amounts like nitrogen or phosphorus, but vital for healthy growth, especially new growth and reproductive stages. Ensuring plants have adequate boron (without tipping into toxicity) is a key part of good crop nutrition.
Boron is essential for plants because it strengthens cell walls and enables the transport of sugars and nutrients towards growing tissues, and supports flowering, pollen tube growth, and seed/fruit development.
Boron deficiency can be corrected using conventional boron fertilizers, where plants absorb boron in the form of boric acid. However, this form has several limitations, including immobility, low efficiency, and susceptibility to leaching. Its availability is also influenced by soil pH and limited compatibility with other nutrients.
Ethanolamine boron fertilizers combine boron with ethanolamine (HO–CH₂–CH₂–NH₂) to provide a stable, plant-available form. They enhance boron absorption through leaves and roots, improve its mobility within plants, reduce leaching losses, and act as a stabilizing and delivery agent, ensuring efficient nutrient uptake and plant growth.
| Parameter | Borax | Boric Acid | Disodium Octaborate | Ethanolamine–Boron Complex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | Na2B4O7·10H2O | H3BO3 | Na2B8O13·4H2O | C2H7NO·H3BO3 |
| Chemical Name | Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate | Orthoboric Acid | Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate | Monoethanolamine–Boron Complex |
| Boron Content (B) | ~10–11% | ~17–18% | ~20–21% | ~10% (varies by product) |
| Physical Form | White crystalline powder or granules | White crystalline powder | White crystalline or granular powder | Liquid micronutrient solution |
| Form Absorbed by Plants | Boric acid (H3BO3) | Boric acid (H3BO3) | Boric acid (H3BO3) | Boric acid (H3BO3) once taken up |
| Mobility in Soil | Moderate; can move slowly with water | High; easily leached in sandy soils | Low; relatively stable | High; moves easily due to chelation and solubility |
| Fertigation Suitability | Moderate | Good | Excellent | Very Good |
Multiplex has developed ALLBORICH, a liquid amino-boron product containing 10% boron in the form of ethanolamine, which demonstrates improved efficiency compared to conventional fertilizers.
This unique formulation contains adjuvants, eliminating the need to add any additional wetting agents or stabilizers. It helps all crops thrive even in challenging soils and under a wide temperature range (10–45°C), promoting healthier growth and higher yields. It serves as a micronutrient supplement to correct and prevent boron deficiencies in crops.
